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Archive for homicide with theft

Attacked 6th April 2014

Three women have been attacked by a man with a hammer at the Cumberland Hotel, in London on 6th April 2014 leaving one fighting for her life. The attacker fled the scene.

The three women, all sisters, were taken to central London hospitals with head injuries after the assault in the early hours of 6th April 2014. The most severely injured woman has life-threatening injuries and was placed in a medically induced coma. Reports suggest she has lost an eye and only has 5% of brain function. Another sister has 2 fractures to her skull, a broken arm and fracture to her cheekbone. The third sister has a fractured skull and a ruptured left eardrum.

All three victims were from the United Arab Emirates and in their 30s. They had been on a shopping trip.

Police said the man entered a room on the seventh floor of the Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch where the three women and three children were sleeping. It is believed the suspect was disturbed and the women were then hit about the face and head with a hammer. The police said a hammer had been recovered from the scene. A thousand pounds worth of property was stolen and £3,000 subsequently withdrawn from one of the victim’s bank accounts.

The attack is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police murder investigation team. which is attached to the Homicide and Major Crime Command. The police said they are treating the attack as attempted murder.

The spokesperson said detectives were trying to find out if the attacker was known to the victims.

Subsequent reports indicate a man called Philip Spence has been charged with three counts of attempted murder. He has also been charged with aggravated burglary. Three other people, two men and a woman, have been charged with receiving or handling stolen goods.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Sunday Telegraph, the Daily Mirror and the BBC.

Harjit Chaggar (69) died on 2nd September 2013 at Sani Globe grocery in Luton Road, Chatham, having sustained head and chest injuries. Her decomposing body was found 12 days later in the basement of the grocery store, now known as Chatham Food Centre. It is estimated she lay in the basement for 6 hours before she died.

Abdul Hannan (44) and Murshed Miah (38) both of Maidstone and Mohammad Islam (29) of Gillingham went on trial in March 2014 at Canterbury Crown Court, all charged with Ms Chaggar’s murder. They denied the charges. Along with Rasad Miah (27) of Chatham, they also denied preventing the lawful burial or cremation of Ms Chaggar.

In May 2014 Murshed Miah and Mohammed Islam were found guilty of murder. They were also found guilty of preventing Mrs Chaggar’s lawful burial, along with Abdul Hannan and Rasad Miah. Hannan was found not guilty of murder.

Ms Chaggar was a retired machinist, who lived in Hillside Road, Chatham. She was a widow, a mother and a grandmother.

The court heard Ms Chaggar disappeared while out shopping on 2nd September 2013. The court heard she had been assaulted and bled to death for up to six hours in the basement store room of the shop after being thrown through a hatch while still alive.

Bobbie Cheema QC, prosecuting, said: “Her killers showed her no mercy and she died there alone.” Judge Adele Williams praised the dignity of Ms Chaggar’s family and the police investigation.

Her son Kuldish Chaggar said: “We pray that she is now at peace and can give us the strength to carry on without her no matter what obstacles are placed in our way, for none can be bigger than losing her. We remember the good times, the smiles and laughter of a loved and treasured mother and grandmother who had so many hopes and plans for the future.”

Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson, from Kent Police, said the men’s silence meant he was unable to tell Ms Chaggar’s family exactly how and why she was attacked and left to die.

Nigel Pilkington, from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “The defendants all knew… how she came to be killed and why. The denials of her murder and their collective attempts to hide the truth were particularly callous and aggravated further by the fact that they left her to die.”

During the trial, Bobbie Cheema, the prosecutor, told the jury that none of the accused, who all worked in the store, had offered any explanation of how Ms Chaggar died or how her body came to be under the floorboards. A handbag belonging to Ms Chaggar was missing along with some jewellery.

Ms Cheema said Ms Chaggar visited the shop on the afternoon of 2nd September and was caught on CCTV. A short while later, after having left the store, she was seen entering the back of the shop after having been beckoned in by a man.

The Prosecutor told the jury “She was rendered unable to leave and never seen again. She must have been held there against her will and thrown in the void under the floor. She did not fall in there by herself and did not cover herself up…”.

The jury was told of the “devastating injuries” Ms Chaggar had suffered before she died, including a significant injury to the left side of her head, a v-shaped cut that would have bled and was likely to have been inflicted with a weapon. Ms Cheema said there was bruising to the front and top of her head caused by blows when she was still alive.

However, the worst damage was a severed spinal cord and other injuries which, according to a pathologist’s report, were usually associated with serious road traffic collisions or falls from a great height. Ms Cheema said this could have happened when Ms Chaggar was thrown from the hatch onto the basement floor. Ms Cheema told the jury “She sustained all her injuries before death and survived for up to six hours before she died,”. An expert estimated she died between 3.30pm and 8.30pm on the day she went missing from a combination of head, chest and spinal injuries.

In the days she was missing, her family made repeated efforts to try to find Ms Chaggar, visiting the Sani Globe and other shops. On 13th September, the family filmed an appeal near the shop to try to find out what had happened Ms Cheema told the jury: “At no point did any of the defendants give any indication to the police that they knew anything about her disappearance.”

It was reportedly the worsening smell which led to concerns being raised and the discovery of Ms Chaggar’s body.

Ms Chaggar’s killers will be sentenced on 20th May.

Note: This report was drawn from reports on the BBC, in Kent Online and ITV News.

Died 24th May 2013

Margery Gilbey (88), known as Madge, died on 24th May 2013 in her care home in Sonali Gardens, Sutton Street, Shadwell, East London. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as strangulation and a stab wound to the neck.

In November 2013, Imran Douglas (18) pleaded guilty to her murder. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years.

Margery Gilbey was a well-known former cafe cook, described as an “old-fashioned East Ender”. Her son Alan (55) from nearby Bethnal Green, said she was a wonderful mother, the “kindest most gentle person”, who was loved by all who knew her. He added: “I can’t believe what has happened. She was a wonderful person and mother. She was very straightforward and kind – she had old-fashioned East End values. Everywhere she lived she was well-liked. The staff at the sheltered accommodation loved her and they have no blame for what happened. Now I just need to mourn. All this is just sinking in.”

Ms Gilbey had nursing care in first-floor accommodation because she had dementia and difficulty walking on her own. In the last few years she had been almost entirely confined to her bed.

Ms Gilbey was found covered in blood after Douglas, a convicted thief, ransacked her room, strangled her, stabbed her in the neck and left her to die in her bed. It was a crime described by a judge as “wholly gratuitous”.

Police were called at just after 4.30pm to reports of a burglary. A nurse walking past Ms Gilbey’s room spotted that her door, usually open, was closed. When she looked through the letterbox and saw him in the room, Douglas clambered over the balcony and escaped in a car waiting nearby. Ms Gilbey’s son Alan visited at that moment with her favourite fish and chip supper just as staff were raising the alarm. Together he and the care assistants found his mother already dead in her bed.

The Old Bailey heard Douglas went to Ms Gilbey’s flat with the intention of killing her.
After fatally wounding her, Douglas rummaged through her drawers with blood on his hands.

Imran Douglas was 17 when he killed Ms Gilbey. He had been expelled from six schools and had been put in a children’s home in Bow East London just days earlier.

Douglas made a reconnaissance trip to the flat the day before the murder, the court heard.
He tricked his way into the building pretending to be the grandson of a resident, then returned to his children’s home. The next day he gained access in the same way and headed straight to Ms Gilbey’s flat.

Detectives identified him on CCTV and went to the children’s home the same day. There they found his clothes covered in blood in a laundry basket, and a bag on his bed which had Ms Gilbey’s blood on it. Douglas initially denied murder, but changed his plea to guilty on the first day of his trial when faced with overwhelming evidence. He had previously been granted anonymity because of his age.

The court heard social services failed to heed warnings from Douglas’s own father that he was a danger. Judge John Bevan QC told him: “Clearly you have significant problems controlling your anger, and it is a tragedy that social services totally failed to have regard to the reality of the extreme danger you posed in May this year and will continue to pose in the future. It is in my judgement, and sadly, a crime at the top end of the scale of gravity. You used a knife to attack a defenceless and vulnerable old lady in the privacy of her own home, on premises you must have seen to be sheltered accommodation. You could have burgled her to her heart’s content without doing what you did. It seems you were observed being driven away in a car but you lack the courage to name your accomplice. You rooted through her property after stabbing her, leaving her blood on her wardrobe. It was wholly gratuitous and, I fear, callous.”

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn said: “Margery was killed as she lay in her own bed, in a place where she should have been safe. To see such violence used against a defenceless, elderly lady was truly shocking.” He added “Only Douglas can explain why an attempted burglary had to end in murder. I would like to pay testimony to Margery’s family who have demonstrated incredible dignity throughout this difficult process.”

Ms Gilbey’s son did not attend court. He said: “Although I would clearly love to attend sentencing to see justice done for my mother, I cannot. If I were to see Imran Douglas in person, it would make him real to me. He would haunt me and I know those momentary flashes would be unbearable.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Mail Online and Murder Maps.

Died 22nd November 2012

Rhoda Youson (57) was stabbed and beaten to death on 22nd November 2012 at her home in Nuneaton, Coventry in the West Midlands. Her body was found on 24th November.

Anthony Hall (48), of no fixed address, was convicted of Ms Youson’s murder in July and on 5th September 2013 was sentenced to life imprisonment. He will serve at least 21 years before any possibility of parole. A jury rejected his claim of diminished responsibility due to mental disability.

Ms Youson was a mother and grandmother of seven. She was described as a generous woman who cooked meals for, and gave money to, homeless people and street drinkers – including the man who killed her.

Birmingham Crown Court heard Hall attacked Ms Youson in the early hours of 20th November, beating her around the head with a baseball bat and repeatedly stabbing her in the face with a garden pitchfork. Afterwards he used her cash card to buy a takeaway meal. Ms Youson was described as unrecognisable after the attack.

Warwickshire Police said Ms Youson had been “ferociously attacked” in her bed. She had massive injuries to her head and there was nothing left of her facial area. Blood was splattered on the walls.

Judge Patrick Thomas said Hall had shown “a complete willingness to destroy a life”.
He added “The reality of this case is that the lady whom you killed was small, frail and ill. She was a lady who demonstrated to the end of her days – to others but also to you – levels of generosity and care that are apparent to all. I am satisfied that the motive for this was your desire to have her bank card so that you could use it, as you did.”

Two days after the attack, Hall told a friend – who reported him to the police – that he had bashed “someone with a pitchfork”. Hall was later arrested and officers forced their way into Ms Youson’s flat. The pitchfork was later found tossed aside in a car park along with a carrier bag containing the broken bat.

After the case, Ms Youson’s family issued a statement through Warwickshire Police: “Rhoda Youson had a heart of gold and would always help others without being asked.
She was kind and generous to her friends offering support, food, shelter, shower and clean clothes when needed just as Anthony Hall knew after she walked him to hospital despite not being in the best of health herself. Words alone can not describe how we are feeling or how we’ve managed to function on a daily basis, and we would never, ever want any other family to go through what we have gone through over the last nine months. She is greatly missed by her daughters and grandchildren, her sisters, mother and friends.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the BBC, Daily Mail and Coventry Telegraph.

Died 9th August 2012

Diana Lee (54) was bludgeoned to death on 9th August 2012 by her partner David Ryan (47). She died from head injuries sustained during a brutal assault in the bathroom of her own home, in the village of Cranage, near Holmes Chapel in East Cheshire.

On 25th July 2013 at Chester Crown Court David Ryan of Hale, Altrincham was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on 26th July and will serve at least 34 years.

After bludgeoning her to death he mutilated her body and set four fires around the house in an attempt to destroy DNA evidence.

Ryan dragged her body and her bedding to the garage where it was his intention to destroy any evidence that connected him to the crime. He used a chainsaw to hideously mutilate her body, attempting to destroy evidence that they had sex that evening.

Ms Lee’s naked body was eventually found in a wheelbarrow by firefighters who had been called by her brother to the fire at her home.

Ms Lee was a successful business woman and owned the Parklands cattery. Ryan did not tell her he was married and tricked her into giving him cash, cheating Ms Lee out of £60,000.

Diana, described as a quiet, gentle, likeable woman, met Ryan in October 2010 having experienced violence in her relationship with her ex partner. Ryan kept the affair secret from his wife of six years.

Explaining the length of the sentence at Chester Crown Court, Justice Richard Henriques said he believed Ryan had acted with premeditation and that there were other aggravating factors – such as the brutality of his attack on his victim, the fact he tried to frame her lodger for the crime and later blame her ex-partner, Neville Barratt, who had previously been imprisoned for assaulting her. Justice Henriques said: “I have concluded that you killed Diana Lee to prevent your spectacular fraud upon her coming to light and you knew there was a readymade suspect of whom Diana was terrified.” Justice Henriques added that he believed Ryan may have spared her life if he could ‘have strung her along with some cock and bull story’ for longer. The judge said he believed Ryan had conned Ms Lee, who had previously been very careful with her money, into giving him almost £70,000 because she believed she was investing into a business venture of his, but by August 2012 Ms Lee wanted to know where all her money had gone. Justice Henriques said “You literally bled her dry,”.
Brian Cummings QC, who prosecuted, said Ryan was “devious” and a “conman” and targeted Ms Lee because of his spiralling debt which had reached £90,000. Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie said Ryan targeted Ms Lee to trick her into giving him money to cover his “mountain of debt”. She said: “We have been left in little doubt that Ryan′s attack on Diana − a diminutive and gentle lady – was brutal and sadistic. He showed contempt and compounded his disregard for her when he did his utmost to remove DNA evidence and then destroy her body. He concocted a web of lies and brutally murdered a woman who had done nothing more than fall for the charm of a conman.”

In a statement Ms Lee’s family said her death had left a hole in the lives of those that knew her. They added: “It is hard enough to deal with the death of a loved one through sickness, accident or old age but Diana’s death was planned. Every effort, calculated and brutal, was made by the perpetrator to try and ensure he could not be traced. David Ryan has only showed himself to be a coward. He has lied to try and explain away his barbaric crime. He feels no remorse or regret. His selfishness and indifference is no more than contempt for the life he has cruelly snubbed out and the family he has destroyed.”

A witness impact statement from Ms Lee’s brother, Collin Sherwin, was read to the court. He said: “Diana was my only sibling, neither of us had any children, so our immediate family unit was very close knit.” He described his family as quiet and unassuming and that work, family and friends were Diana’s life adding: “We have never asked for anything and we firmly believe in the difference between right and wrong.” He said his sister loved life and everything it had to offer and that she was always open to new experiences. he said: “She was kind and sensitive and loved to spend time with friends, socialising, dancing and taking part on yoga and Pilates.” Mr Sherwin said that he and his mother greatly missed Diana’s presence in their lives and that he is no longer able to watch the news or listen to the radio, as he is terrified of hearing stories of brutal murders. He added: “For me, only evil is capable of doing this to her.”

Ryan owned a glazing and conservatory firm, but had been declared bankrupt in June 2012. During their two-year relationship, Ms Lee withdrew £70,000 from various accounts and Ryan’s “cash purchases and deposits” totalled “more than £60,000”, despite the fact he had no income and huge debts.

Ryan tried to “frame” Ms Lee’s lodger Andrew Leese by dipping his antique German dagger in her blood and planting her underwear in his room.

However, the judge Mr Justice Henriques said the case against Ryan was “absolutely overwhelming”.

Phone records showed that Ryan contacted Ms Lee continually from his mobile phone until January 2012 when she had given him £30,000. He then began to use a telephone box near to his home in Hale to make contact. Detectives pieced together a pattern that showed cash withdrawals and bank transfers made from Ms Lee’s account shortly after she received a phone call from Ryan.

On the day she died, Ryan sent hoax text messages from Diana′s mobile phone to clients due to drop off their pets, to give himself more time at the crime scene. Cheshire Police also analysed his computer and found Google search terms including “countries that do not have an extradition treaty with the UK”.

Speaking after the verdict, Chief Superintendent Guy Hindle, said: “The death that befell Diana Lee was a vicious and callous one. With the assistance of key witnesses within our community, we brought the man responsible to justice. I would like to take this opportunity to offer my thanks to the communities affected by this tragic and cruel murder, for their help in this investigation, and to reassure them that crimes such as this are exceptionally rare in our area.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the BBC and the Knutsford Guardian.

Died 25th October 2012

Jean Farrar (77) died on 25th October 2012 after being attacked at her home in Brentford, west London. She lived alone and was registered blind. Her date of birth was 1st May 1935. She was frail, partially sighted and forgetful.

In June 2013 at the Old Bailey, Daniel Barnett (20) of Holly House, Brentford was found guilty of her brutal murder. He has been jailed for at least 32 years. Police said he was a serial burglar and was trying to steal from her home.

In 23rd January 2014 Barnett appealed to have his sentence shortened at the Royal Courts of Justice, challenging the judge’s finding that he had attacked Ms Farrar then returned to continue kicking her. Mr Justice Globe, sitting with Lord Justice Laws and Judge Paul Batty QC, said there was no justifiable basis for cutting his sentence. Mr Justice Globe described how Barnett jumped up and down on Ms Farrar’s head until she stopped screaming.

Jean Farrar’s daughter, Kiki Farrar and granddaughter, Toyah Farrar, expressed relief that the appeal was dismissed, saying it brought some closure, although it could not bring her back.

Ms Farrar’s daughter, Kiki Farrar, said: “Our family is extremely thankful that the appeal against Daniel Barnett’s sentence was dismissed and that his life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years imprisonment remains. We now hope that the conclusion of these proceedings will allow us to try and move on with our lives although nothing will ever make up for the tragic loss of our loved one who was so cruelly taken from us. We found out he had applied for an appeal in December so it’s been hanging over us and ruined Christmas, we’re just so glad he’ll be in there until he’s 52-years-old. We would like to add our thanks to Mr Peter Wright QC, the police investigation team and all others who were involved for all their help in bringing this case to a successful conclusion.”

She added that everybody in Brentford misses her mother who was often seen wheeling her bicycle down to her beloved Watermans Centre or to Jenny’s Cafe in Brentford High Street.

Ms Farrar was found suffering from severe head injuries after police were called to reports of a disturbance in Brook Road South, Brentford. She was kicked and stamped on by Barnett when she caught him in her home. He continued until she stopped moving, leaving her virtually unrecognisable. Michael Poyser heard loud shouting and crashing from Ms Farrar’s home as he walked home, the Old Bailey heard. He witnessed part of the attack through the window and called the police. Prosecutor Peter Wright QC told the court: “He could see two figures in the hallway through the frosted glass panels. He saw the man throw the woman against the walls of the hallway several times. The woman was screaming in pain. The man then threw the woman against the front door and she fell to the floor. As Mr Poyser stood watching the events he saw the woman begin jumping on the woman and kicking her repeatedly until the screaming stopped.” Barnett fled but was arrested nearby with blood all over his hands, trousers and trainers.

At the original trial, Judge John Bevan QC described it as a “vicious and cowardly” attack and said he had never before seen such horrific injuries. The judge said: “The victim was a frail 77-year-old woman who was entitled to be given the respect due to the elderly in society.” He added “You argued with her, brought her to the ground and kicked and stamped on her face in a gratuitous, vicious and cowardly attack on a totally defenceless victim and then continued investigating whether there was anything worth stealing before returning to finish her off with another kicking and stamping. You are an aggressive, bad- tempered, cowardly young man who has no respect for his elders and, in this case, much betters.”

Ms Farrar’s family paid tribute to “the kindest and most gentle person we ever knew”.
In an emotional impact statement read to the court, Ms Farrar’s son Jamie described the loss of his mother as “immeasurable”. He said: “Our family’s sense of pain and horror over losing my mother in such a violent and brutal way is indescribable. She was passionate, funny, eccentric but above all loving. Jean loved life and would share this love with all those she talked to. Daniel Barnett did not need to enter my mother’s house that night. He chose to. Upon finding my mum at home, he easily could have left. Instead he chose to beat her and throw her against the wall. And when she screamed in pain, he chose to kick her, stamp on her, and jump on her head until she was unable to scream any more. The attack that Daniel Barnett carried out on my mum was barbaric, and he has not displayed any signs of remorse or taken any responsibility since. He attacked a frail, clinically blind, vulnerable 77-year-old woman in her own home. A woman who had no chance of defending herself. He showed her no mercy. He showed her no compassion. The pain, the emptiness and the guilt that we live with every day is something that can only be felt, not described.”

Mr Farrar said Jean Farrar had been a seamstress for the royal family, a model and an actress who once starred alongside Roger Moore in an episode of The Saint. She also reportedly acted as a double for Hayley Mills. In a statement he said: “Over the course of this trial we’ve heard the excruciating details of my mum’s death, but we have heard almost nothing about her extraordinary life.” Her family said: ‘We can only hope that in her dying moments she was comforted by the immense love we had for her and all of the moments that she gave us’

The investigation was led by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) under Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor. DCITaylor said: “This was a horrendous attack on a vulnerable woman who lived alone. It was clear that Barnett targeted the address with a view to steal property. This was a mindless, cowardly and unnecessarily cruel attack on an elderly lady in her own home.” Barnett was described as a serial burglar.

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the BBC, the Hounslow Chronicle, get West London and Murder Maps.

Probably Died 29th April, 2010

Debbie Cooper, later briefly known as Debbie Starbuck, (44) from Nottingham, was probably killed on 29th April, 2010. She was a self-employed proofreader.

Her husband, Jamie Starbuck (now 36), from Nottingham, killed her eight days after their marriage and dismembered and burnt her remains at their home in Desford Close, Old Basford. He then pretended to be travelling abroad with her.

He admitted murder at Nottingham Crown Court and on 11th May 2013 was sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge ordered that he serve a minimum of 30 years.

It has not been established exactly how Ms Cooper died, but during the police’s investigation they found an unsent email from her killer that read: “I had planned for it to be quick… I never expected you to be so durable.”

Ms Cooper married her husband at West Bridgford register office on 21 April 2010 and was killed eight days later.

Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, said Ms Cooper had inherited £150,000 following the death of her mother. After he killed her, Starbuck used nearly £65,000 of her money to travel the world. He tried to cover up the crime by sending emails in Ms Cooper’s name, pretending they were travelling together. Starbuck was arrested at Heathrow Airport on 19th January after concerned friends of Debbie Cooper contacted the police and reported her missing in March 2012.

Judge Michael Stokes QC called it a “grotesque and inhumane act”. The judge said: “This case shows the categories of wickedness are never closed. On more than 75 homicides I’m trying hard to think of one as horrific as this. You knew she came from a strict Jewish background where cremation is wholly outside their tradition. You dismembered her body and burnt it. Even in death you stripped her of all dignity. It is difficult to imagine a more grotesque and inhumane act.” The judge said he was satisfied the murder was for “financial gain”. The judge told Starbuck “After you disposed of her remains, you plundered her account and set out to live the life of Riley”.

Speaking on behalf of Ms Cooper’s family Beth Jones said: “There are so many things about this that are almost impossible to bear. The unbelievable and shocking fact that she is dead, has been dead for so long and we didn’t even know. For nearly three years we thought we were communicating with her, living with the illusion that she was alive and happy and travelling around the world with Jamie. We are haunted and tormented by the suffering that she must have endured in the violent act that caused her death.”

Speaking after the sentencing today, Detective Chief Inspector Rob Griffin, of Nottinghamshire Police, who led the investigation into Debbie Cooper’s disappearance and murder, said: “Even though concerns for Debbie were only reported last year, all our enquiries seemed to link back to Jamie as being the last person to see her alive. His activities seemed very strange and out of character, heading off suddenly on his travels. He was obviously running away from what he had done to Debbie. As part of routine enquiries, we emailed both Debbie and Jamie’s accounts asking them to make contact. Jamie never replied. However we later discovered that a number of emails claiming to be from Debbie, sent to her family and friends in an attempt to convince them she was alive, were actually sent on the same day and from exactly the same location as emails sent from Jamie to other people.”

Mr Griffin continued: “We have learnt that Jamie Starbuck is a very controlling man, who engineered a situation to ensure he could benefit financially from Debbie’s disappearance.
After admitting his guilt today, I hope Starbuck will now give Debbie’s family a chance to grieve and have a proper funeral by revealing where she is.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the Times, Daily Telegraph and the BBC.

Found dead 22nd July 2012

Pamela Wheeler (76) was found dead on Sunday 22nd July 2012 at her home in Newacres Road, Thamesmead, south east London, after an apparent break-in. There were reports that her wrist and ankles were tied and that she had been tortured.

Ms Wheeler was believed to have kept a large amount of cash at home because she did not trust banks. The attackers are thought to have forced her to reveal the PIN numbers to her bank cards. Her credit cards were found strewn across the floor. Police found her back door open and her safe open.

A post-mortem examination has so far failed to establish a cause of death but further tests are to take place. Detectives are reported to believe she may still have been alive when the raiders fled from her bungalow.

Ms Wheeler, who had recently recovered from breast cancer and reportedly suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease, had lived alone following the death of her husband Dennis two years ago. She was a widow and mother of two and formerly worked as a dressmaker.

Her family described her as a kind and charitable widow who had lost touch with her ten siblings following the breakdown of her first marriage. Ms Wheeler’s niece, Velda Holland Jones, said: “She was a lovely lady.” adding “It’s shocking to hear how she died. After she split from her first husband, John, she became estranged from the family and there was no one who was in touch with her any more.”

Ms Wheeler married Dennis in 1997 and later wrote a post on Friends Reunited saying: “I am happily married to Dennis, and living in Thamesmead, south London. I have two children, both married, and three dogs whom I adore.” However, following her husband’s death at the age of 70, Ms Wheeler reportedly became reclusive.

Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command (HSCC) have undertaken the investigation, led by Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn. DCI Gwyn said: “This is a shocking and tragic crime, taking away all dignity and respect”. He added that Ms Wheeler had been found at her ground floor flat after a neighbour called police expressing concern that she had not been seen for some time. He said: “We are keeping an open mind at this point in time but one line of inquiry is that this lady’s death took place during a burglary.”

Ms Wheeler was last seen on Thursday 19th July. DCI Gwyn said: “We believe Mrs Wheeler was last seen on Thursday by neighbours. She usually leaves food out in bowls for cats in the area and neighbours noticed the bowls were empty on Friday morning.” Police say Ms Wheeler kept a large amount of money in a safe at her home because she didn’t trust banks. The police confirmed her wrists and ankles were bound.

DCI Gwyn said: “Friends knew her as a lovely lady who fed the cats and donated money to animal charities. It was known that she used to keep money at the premises. It may have been that word got around to someone. She had little trust in the banks.” He added: “It’s a horrific way to die and a cowardly attack on a defenceless elderly lady in her own home.”

Police now believe that Ms Wheeler was attacked at her home at some point between Thursday afternoon, 19th July, and the following morning. Two separate witnesses have described two males acting suspiciously on that Thursday evening. The two males were seen near to a car at the front of Ms Wheeler’s house.

Neighbour Tracey Smith (39) said: “Pam was really friendly with the children and you would always see her taking her dogs for a walk and she was happy. But after her husband passed away she would stand outside at night in her dressing gown on her own. The girl next door phoned the council and told them she needed help. She did have a carer who came round occasionally and she was mobile but she obviously had a few problems. My friend went in and found her. She had her hands tied. Her credit cards were out on the floor.”

Note: This report was drawn from reports in the BBC, the Daily Mail and Murder Maps.

Died 11th July 2012

Linda Sheard (63) was found dead at home in Port Mer Close in the Brixington area of Exmouth, Devon, on Wednesday 11th July 2012. She worked as a secretary for a local building company DJH.

She had been strangled with a belt by her son, Andrew Cane (then 30). In July 2013 he was found guilty of her murder at Exeter Crown Court. Cane admitted manslaughter but denied murder. He was jailed for life and told he would serve at least 15 years.

Cane was drunk and high on cocaine when he attacked Ms Sheard. The attack followed an argument over his drug use. It was reported that Cane had moved into Linda Sheard’s house. He worked as a roofer for the same company as Ms Sheard.

The court heard Ms Sheard had found a wrap of cocaine in Cane’s bedroom at the house.
The jury was told she had already lent him £60,000 to pay off debts and warned him she would evict him if he ever took drugs in the house.

Cane told police Ms Cane pulled him back and slapped him as he tried to get away, knocking her to the floor of her bedroom. He also told police he could not remember how the canvas belt got around her neck and that he had been “trying to calm the situation” saying he “panicked” and let go after she started coughing.

In a later police interview, he admitted he took his mother’s purse and used her cash point card to buy cocaine.

Following the sentencing, Detective Inspector Gregg Dawe, of Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were “very satisfied” with the verdict and the sentence in “what was a unprovoked violent assault”.

He said: “Andrew Cane’s actions have left a family grieving for the loss of a loving mother, daughter, auntie and grandmother; and three children without a father for at least 15 years.”

Ms Sheard had previously lived in Blandford Forum, Dorset, before moving to Exeter and bought her home in Exmouth in 2006. Those who knew her described her as a friendly woman who always had a smile and a wave. After her death, colleagues from DJH joined other mourners laying flowers outside Ms Sheard’s home. One said: “She was the nicest woman ever. She was helpful and said hello no matter what. Even if you walked past her she would say hello, she was very polite.”

After Ms Sheard’s death, Cane’s father Michael Cane, said to be a former police officer, made an appeal through the media for his son to give himself up.

Note: This report was drawn from reports from the BBC and Exmouth People.